Story of the dervish who had secluded himself in the mountains, with an account of the sweetness of severance (from the world) and seclusion and of entering upon this path, for (God hath said), “I am the companion of them that commemorate Me and the friend of them that take Me as their friend. If thou art with all, thou art without all when thou art without Me; And if thou art without all, thou art with all when thou art with Me.”

بود درویشی بکهساری مقیم ** خلوت او را بود هم خواب و ندیم

There was a dervish dwelling in a mountainous place: solitude was his bedfellow and boon-companion.

چون ز خالق می‌رسید او را شمول ** بود از انفاس مرد و زن ملول1615

Since collectedness (spiritual quiet) was coming for him from the Creator, he was weary of the breaths of man and woman.

همچنانک سهل شد ما را حضر ** سهل شد هم قوم دیگر را سفر

Just as staying at home is easy to us, so travelling is easy to another class of people.

آنچنانک عاشقی بر سروری ** عاشقست آن خواجه بر آهنگری

In the same way as thou art in love with dominion, that worthy man is in love with the ironsmith's handicraft.

هر کسی را بهر کاری ساختند ** میل آن را در دلش انداختند

Every one has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that (work) has been put into his heart.

دست و پا بی میل جنبان کی شود ** خار وخس بی آب و بادی کی رود

How should hand and foot be set in motion without desire? How should sticks and straws go (from their place) without any water or wind?

گر ببینی میل خود سوی سما ** پر دولت بر گشا همچون هما1620

If thou see (that) thy desire (is) towards Heaven, unfold the wings of empire, like the Humá;

ور ببینی میل خود سوی زمین ** نوحه می‌کن هیچ منشین از حنین

But if thou see (that) thy desire (is) towards the earth, keep lamenting, cease not at all from moaning.

عاقلان خود نوحه‌ها پیشین کنند ** جاهلان آخر بسر بر می‌زنند

The wise, indeed, make lamentations at first; the foolish beat their heads at the last.

ز ابتدای کار آخر را ببین ** تا نباشی تو پشیمان یوم دین

From the beginning of the affair discern the end (thereof), so that thou mayst not be repenting on the Day of Judgement.

دیدن زرگر عاقبت کار را و سخن بر وفق عاقبت گفتن با مستعیر ترازو

How a goldsmith discerned the end of the affair and spoke in accordance with the end to one who wished to borrow his scales.

آن یکی آمد به پیش زرگری ** که ترازو ده که بر سنجم زری

A certain man came to a goldsmith, saying, “Give me the scales, that I may weigh some gold.”

گفت خواجه رو مرا غربال نیست ** گفت میزان ده برین تسخر مه‌ایست1625

The master (goldsmith) said, “Go, I have no sieve.” “Give me the scales,” he replied, “and don't stop to jest like this.”

گفت جاروبی ندارم در دکان ** گفت بس بس این مضاحک رابمان

He said, “I have no broom in the shop.” “Enough, enough!” cried the other; “leave these jokes.

من ترازویی که می‌خواهم بده ** خویشتن را کر مکن هر سو مجه

Give (me) the scales which I am asking for; don't make yourself out to be deaf, don't jump in every direction.”

گفت بشنیدم سخن کر نیستم ** تا نپنداری که بی معنیستم

He (the goldsmith) said, “I heard what you said, I am not deaf; you must not think that I am nonsensical.

این شنیدم لیک پیری مرتعش ** دست لرزان جسم تو نا منتعش

I heard this (request), but you are a shaky old man: your hand is trembling and your body is not erect;

وان زر تو هم قراضه‌ی خرد مرد ** دست لرزد پس بریزد زر خرد1630

And moreover that gold of yours consists of little tiny filings: your hand trembles, so the fragments of gold will drop (from it);

پس بگویی خواجه جاروبی بیار ** تا بجویم زر خود را در غبار

Then you will say, ‘Sir, fetch a broom, that I may look in the dust for my gold.’

چون بروبی خاک را جمع آوری ** گوییم غلبیر خواهم ای جری

When you sweep (with the broom), you will gather dust (along with the gold); you will say to me, ‘I want the sieve, O gallant man.’

من ز اول دیدم آخر را تمام ** جای دیگر رو ازینجا والسلام

I from the beginning discerned the end complete. Go from here to some other place, and farewell!”

The rest of the Story of the ascetic of the mountain who had made a vow that he would not pluck any mountain fruit from the trees or shake the trees or tell any one to shake them, either plainly or in veiled terms, and that he would only eat what the wind might cause to fall from the trees.

اندر آن که بود اشجار و ثمار ** بس مرودی کوهی آنجا بی‌شمار

On that mountain were trees and fruits; there were many mountain-pears- (they were) numberless.

گفت آن درویش یا رب با تو من ** عهد کردم زین نچینم در زمن1635

The dervish said, “O Lord, I make a covenant with Thee (that) I will not pluck any of these during the time (of my life).

جز از آن میوه که باد انداختش ** من نچینم از درخت منتعش

I will not pluck from the raised-up (lofty) tress (aught) but the fruit that the wind has caused to fall.”

مدتی بر نذر خود بودش وفا ** تا در آمد امتحانات قضا

For a while he kept his vow faithfully: (he kept it) till the tribulations of Destiny came on.

زین سبب فرمود استثنا کنید ** گر خدا خواهد به پیمان بر زنید

On this account He (God) hath commanded, saying, “Make the exception: attach (the words) ‘if God will’ to your promise.

هر زمان دل را دگر میلی دهم ** هرنفس بر دل دگر داغی نهم

Every instant I give to the heart a different desire, every moment I lay upon the heart a different brand.

کل اصباح لنا شان جدید ** کل شیء عن مرادی لا یحید1640

At every dawn I have a new employment: nothing turns aside from that (course) which I have willed.”

در حدیث آمد که دل همچون پریست ** در بیابانی اسیر صرصریست

It has come down in the Traditions (of the Prophet) that the heart is like a feather in a desert, the captive of a violent blast.